Away from formal speeches on wars, trade and the global economy, world leaders at the G7 Summit in France found themselves in the spotlight for a different reason, candid conversations caught on hot microphones.
Between handshakes, group photographs and closed-door negotiations, leaders chatted about cigarettes, football, birthday gifts and cracked jokes, revealing a lighter side rarely seen in official summit proceedings.
One of the most talked-about moments involved Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. As leaders assembled for another day of meetings, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz casually asked if she had smoked a cigarette that morning.
Meloni surprised many by replying that she had not smoked “since the first of May". The revelation prompted applause from leaders around the table, including Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.
Enjoying the attention, Meloni raised both hands in celebration. Carney joined the banter, asking jokingly, “Do you have a patch?", drawing laughter from those nearby.
Football, too, found its way into summit conversations. With the FIFA World Cup being jointly hosted by the US, Canada and Mexico, leaders exchanged views on the sport over lunch overlooking Lake Geneva.
“Allez les bleus!" one leader exclaimed, cheering France, while another praised Paris Saint-Germain’s recent Champions League triumph. Starmer, meanwhile, admired Cape Verde’s gritty draw against Spain, calling it “quite remarkable".
US President Donald Trump switched the discussion to mixed martial arts, enthusiastically speaking about UFC president Dana White after recently hosting a UFC event at the White House.
Another exchange that drew attention was Trump’s cryptic reference to Greenland during a conversation with European Council President António Costa. “You understand?… Greenland,"
Trump was heard saying, reviving memories of his earlier attempts to acquire the Danish autonomous territory.
Humour resurfaced when Canadian PM Carney noticed French President Emmanuel Macron had left his watch behind. “We’ve got his watch," Carney joked. Trump instantly replied, “Give me it if he left, gimme," prompting laughter.
Yet, it was PM Narendra Modi and Meloni who once again stole the spotlight. Before the traditional family photograph, the two leaders greeted each other warmly. Referring to their popularity online, PM Modi mentioned Instagram, to which Meloni quipped: “Yes, we are the most famous on Instagram."
The remark reignited the viral “Melodi" phenomenon, proving that even amid serious diplomacy, moments of spontaneity often leave the strongest impression.
